Gargantua and Pantagruel eBook

Furthermore, I will that very shortly thou try how
much thou hast profited, which thou canst not better
do than by maintaining publicly theses and conclusions
in all arts against all persons whatsoever, and by
haunting the company of learned men, both at Paris
and otherwhere. But because, as the wise man
Solomon saith, Wisdom entereth not into a malicious
mind, and that knowledge without conscience is but
the ruin of the soul, it behoveth thee to serve, to
love, to fear God, and on him to cast all thy thoughts
and all thy hope, and by faith formed in charity to
cleave unto him, so that thou mayst never be separated
from him by thy sins. Suspect the abuses of the
world. Set not thy heart upon vanity, for this
life is transitory, but the Word of the Lord endureth
for ever. Be serviceable to all thy neighbours,
and love them as thyself. Reverence thy preceptors:
shun the conversation of those whom thou desirest
not to resemble, and receive not in vain the graces
which God hath bestowed upon thee. And, when
thou shalt see that thou hast attained to all the
knowledge that is to be acquired in that part, return
unto me, that I may see thee and give thee my blessing
before I die. My son, the peace and grace of
our Lord be with thee. Amen.

Thy father Gargantua.

From Utopia the 17th day of the month
of March.

These letters being received and read, Pantagruel
plucked up his heart, took a fresh courage to him,
and was inflamed with a desire to profit in his studies
more than ever, so that if you had seen him, how he
took pains, and how he advanced in learning, you would
have said that the vivacity of his spirit amidst the
books was like a great fire amongst dry wood, so active
it was, vigorous and indefatigable.

Chapter 2.IX.

How Pantagruel found Panurge, whom he loved all his
lifetime.

One day, as Pantagruel was taking a walk without the
city, towards St. Anthony’s abbey, discoursing
and philosophating with his own servants and some
other scholars, (he) met with a young man of very comely
stature and surpassing handsome in all the lineaments
of his body, but in several parts thereof most pitifully
wounded; in such bad equipage in matter of his apparel,
which was but tatters and rags, and every way so far
out of order that he seemed to have been a-fighting
with mastiff-dogs, from whose fury he had made an
escape; or to say better, he looked, in the condition
wherein he then was, like an apple-gatherer of the
country of Perche.

As far off as Pantagruel saw him, he said to those
that stood by, Do you see that man there, who is a-coming
hither upon the road from Charenton bridge?
By my faith, he is only poor in fortune; for I may
assure you that by his physiognomy it appeareth that
nature hath extracted him from some rich and noble
race, and that too much curiosity hath thrown him upon
adventures which possibly have reduced him to this